the Metropolis.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of Kensington was held at the King's Arms on Tuesday, to petition in support of the financial policy of Government. Mr. Villiers was to have presided ; but he thought it better to watch matters in the House of Commons. Mr. Prescott, of the firm of Grote, Prescott, and Co. was his substitute. Mr. Ridley, a working-man, proposed a Chartist amendment on one of the resolutions, denouncing monopolies, and pronouncing Universal Suffrage to be the best means of obtaining a redress of grievances : but he was outvoted by a large majority, and the original resolutions and a petition were carried.
The annual general meeting of the General Shipowners' Society, and
of others interested in British shipping, was held yesterday, at the Lon- don Tavern. The meeting was very numerously attended. Among those present, were Mr. G. F. Young, Mr. G. R. Robinson, Mr. A. Chapman, M.P., Mr. G. Palmer, M.P., Alderman Thompson, M.P., Mr. E. Lyall, Mr. G. Powles, indeed nearly every leading man connected with the shipping interest. The report, of course, alluded to the propo- sition of Ministers to alter the Timber-duties ; and, of course also, in terms of disapprobation. It was unanimously adopted and affirmed by the meeting.
The Protestant Operative Association has advanced to the dignity of an annual meeting in Exeter Hall : the first was held on Wednesday ; Lord Kenyon in the chair. The report said that Associations had been formed in Southwark, Marylebone, the Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, and the City ; in " one of which there were no fewer than 450 mem- bers." Mr. Hugh M'Neile was the chief speaker.
The sixth annual dinner on behalf of the Asylum for worthy, aged, and decayed Freemasons, was held at the Freemason's Tavern on Wednesday. In the absence of Mr. Benjamin Wood, M.P., who was expected to take the chair, Mr. Joseph Copeland Bell presided. The Treasurer, Dr. Crucifix, said that the property of the society now amounted to more than 3,1001. The amount of the donations and sub- scriptions received was upwards of 5401.
The annual festival in aid of the funds of the Booksellers Provident Institution was held on Wednesday, at the Trafalgar Tavern, Green- wich. Mr. John Murray was the chairman ; he was supported by Alderman Maguey and Mr. Von Raumer, the latter of whom de- livered an interesting speech.
An action, the nature of which is not mentioned in the report, having been brought against Mr. Lee Morton, and resisted on the plea of in- fancy, application was made in the Court of Exchequer on Saturday to Baron Parke for a rule to show cause why that plea should not be set aside, and judgment be entered for the defendant. On the part of the plaintiff, it was stated that the defendant had been a performer at the Brighton Theatre, and was the author of a popular piece, now perform- ing, called London Assurance; that he had described himself as twenty- two years of age, and said that he should come into possession of a fortune of 50,0001. in December 1841, when he should be twenty-three years of age ; but that he was unable to procure money before, as his guardian, Dr. Lardner, was in America. The affidavits also stated, that the defendant's appearance was that of a man at least twenty-two or twenty-three years of age. On the other hand, affidavits were pro- duced from the defendant, his mother, and brother, stating positively that Mr. Morton was born in Dublin in the month of December 1820, and was privately baptized. The rule was discharged, with costs.
At the Secondaries Court, on Tuesday, in an action brought by Mr. Morse against the Eastern Counties Railway, for injuries sustained from the overthrow of a train through the negligence of the Company's servants, a verdict was taken by consent for 2101. Mr. Morse laid his damages as, B-,000/.
On Tuesday, at the Marylebone Police-office, John Wilkinson, a Policeman on the London and Birmingham Railway, -was fined
the information of the Company, for neglecting his duty in not shifting the "points" at an appointed time. John Jackson, another Policeman in the same employ, was sent to prison on non-payment of a fine of 4/., for neglecting to ring a bell on the arrival of a train. Both men were asleep at their posts, and Jackson was tipsy.
Two women named Groves and Wright were committed for trial, on Tuesday last, at Bow Street, on a charge of pinioning George Buller, a bricklayer, and rifling his pockets as be was going home through the Park early in the morning.
Mary Holland, alias Hollings, was finally examined last Tuesday at Hatton Garden, on various charges of having robbed children of their clothes. She was committed for trial.
On Tuesday, an inquest was held in the Barracks at Woolwich, on the body of John Grice, a bombardier, who died that morning from being shot on Monday by private James M'Garrattey of the Royal Ar- tillery. The dying man's short declaration was read—" The prisoner asked me to lend him some money ; which I refused, because he was tipsy, after lie had urged me several times." The confession of M'Garrattey, on being handcuffed in the cell, was also given in evidence—" I was irritated, vexed, and maddened by liquor ; and I am a murderer. He was my best friend, and I hope to God he is not dead." Several officers and soldiers were examined, and they gave the prisoner a good general character for the fifteen years that he had been in the corps. The Jury found a verdict of " Wilful Murder."
This case gave rise to a dispute between the civil and military autho- rities. As soon as the murder was known, Nimmo, a Sergeant of Po- lice, repaired to the Police-office, and told Mr. Jeremy, the Magistrate, that the authorities at the Barracks refused to give the murderer up until he should be examined by his officers. Mr. Jeremy sent the Po- liceman back, to tell the officers, that unless the man were surrendered, a warrant would be issued : and in the meanwhile, reference was made to the Mutiny Act ; the 109th article of which directs officers to use their utmost endeavours to deliver men or officers to the civil power, when accused of violence against person or property. The Magistrates* Clerk pointed out, that any officer infringing that direction was liable to be cashiered. Nimmo returned, and said that Lieutenant Gilbert, the officer of the day, refused to give the man up without the orders of Lord Blomfield, the Commandant. Mr. Jeremy then issued his war- rant ; but Mr. Gilbert still refused to obey it ; saying that the Coroner had told Captain Somerville not to give the man up. Mr. Jeremy said that it would be his duty to submit tke case to the Master-General of the Ordnance.
On Saturday morning a notice was posted up at the lobby of Astley's Theatre, in Stangate Street, stating, that notwithstanding the heavy loss of Messrs. Ducrow and West, they had authorized Mr. Foster, the Trea- surer, to pay to the carpenters, grooms, and other working-classes, their full salaries, and to the whole of the performers half their salaries ; which were accordingly paid. It is intended to erect a temporary theatre, it is said, on the site of the old one, as soon as possible. It is believed, from the remarks of the Recorder while addressing a Court of Conservancy of the River Thames, lately held before the Lord Mayor, that the proper authorities intend to pull down Battersea Bridge and build a new one in its place.
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